Spanish American War (1898) The Spanish American War highlights the influence the media has on politics, where an eventual outcome of the bombardment of propaganda is war and violence.
Cuban Conflict
Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt both agreed that controlling the seas is the key to ultimate power
Relates to Napoleon as well as the successes of Britain
They were also interested in the natural resources in Cuba
Spanish Ambassador Dupuy de Lome sent a biting letter to McKinley saying, "McKinley is weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd. Besides being a would-be politician who tries to leave a door open behind himself while keeping on good terms with the jingoes of his party"
This insulted McKinley, making the matter personal
Spain, who had a firm chokehold on Cuba, was well aware that the United States had been eyeing Cuba
Spain wanted to maintain Cuba and its people by any means necessary which created palpable tension between Spain, Cuban's, and America
They attempted to keep order in Cuba by taking the working class for their own and leaving the rest to come crawling back
This failed, only further increasing tension
What Caused the War?
Misinterpreted causes for declaring war
Many were riled up with the sinking of the USS Maine
The ship hit a mine and had a magnificent explosion, killing 266 sailors aboard
Although president McKinley wanted people to calm down, they went ballistic upon hearing about the incident
The reason why they went ballistic and why they eventually went to war was because of Yellow Press
They provided extremely biased propaganda that infuriated Americans
Depicted every Spanish action as a monstrous display of brutish violence
They were savages in many Americans eyes at the time
The Spanish American War highlights the influence the media has on politics, where an eventual outcome of the bombardment of propaganda is war and violence.
Cuban Conflict
- Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt both agreed that controlling the seas is the key to ultimate power
- Relates to Napoleon as well as the successes of Britain
- They were also interested in the natural resources in Cuba
- Spanish Ambassador Dupuy de Lome sent a biting letter to McKinley saying, "McKinley is weak and a bidder for the admiration of the crowd. Besides being a would-be politician who tries to leave a door open behind himself while keeping on good terms with the jingoes of his party"
- This insulted McKinley, making the matter personal
- Spain, who had a firm chokehold on Cuba, was well aware that the United States had been eyeing Cuba
- Spain wanted to maintain Cuba and its people by any means necessary which created palpable tension between Spain, Cuban's, and America
- They attempted to keep order in Cuba by taking the working class for their own and leaving the rest to come crawling back
- This failed, only further increasing tension
What Caused the War?